Ivory and Slaves in East Central Africa: Changing Pattern of International Trade in East Central Africa to the Later Nineteenth Century

Alpers' book explores the international trade in East Central Africa from the 15th to the 19th century, arguing that the historical roots of underdevelopment in the area are to be found in the system of international trade initiated by Arabs in the 15th century and extended by the Portuguese in the 16th and 17th centuries. It places East African trading systems within the larger Western Indian Ocean system and the world capitalist system.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Professor Shepperson praises this regional economic history of East Central Africa as a delightful blend of a scholarly exploration of a relatively new field of African history and a valuable contribution to a crucial debate on African underdevelopment. Alpers has authored a comprehensive account of the penetration and evolving nature of international trade in East Central Africa spanning from the fifteenth to the later nineteenth century. His study primarily focuses on a vast and relatively unknown region encompassing southern Tanzania, northern Mozambique, and Malawi, with an extension north along the Swahili coast and west as far as the Lunda state of the Mwata Kazembe. He delves into the intricate dynamics between traders and their profound impact on the diverse societies of East Central Africa. Alpers' central objective is to establish that the historical roots of underdevelopment in the area can be traced back to the international trade system initiated by Arabs in the fifteenth century, which was subsequently seized and expanded by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This system was characterized by a complex amalgamation of Indian, Arab, and Western capitalism in the nineteenth century. Consequently, this engaging and original book places East African trading systems within the broader Western Indian Ocean system and the global capitalist system. This title is part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press' commitment to seek out and nurture the brightest minds, providing them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a significant impact. Drawing from a backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived utilizes print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again. Originally published in 1975, this title has been revitalized and reintroduced to the scholarly community.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520307537